How important/necessary is a router?

[Farley2k]

On Tuesday thery are coming to setup my cable internet and I was wondering if I should get a router before then. I have one computer running win XP and I do have a hub for extra computers if company comes over.

It seems like I can get firewall protection with either XPs built in stuff, or Zone Alarm both of which are free. The problem is that they would then be running on my machine making it slower than if a separate box (a router) handled firewalling.

Is there anything else important that a router does for a small (well tiny) network...is it even a network with one computer? Anyway should I invest in one or should I just install Zone Alarm and be happy.


Also is there a huge difference in quality between brands? At Best Buy I can pay anywhere between $30 for a D-link up to $100 for a Lynksys router - is it worth the extra cash?


Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

The Content of the Following Links Might Help:

AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

 

[MichaelD]

Something basic like a D-link DI-604 is perfect for a home network.

Don't let the cable installer see the router; they throw hissy fits over that.

SOHO routers are so cheap these days that there's really no reason NOT to have one. The DLink above is a router/4-port switch combined...you can't go wrong. it's also easy to setup. I've bought two of them for friends that just got cable internet. Working great.

 

[Farley2k]

Yeah I read them, and they were very good but while they describe function I didn't think they really hit at the core of the question I have.

I guess my core question is a router a much better choice for firewall protection than say ZoneAlarm?

 

[MichaelD]

Zone Alarm is great but requires some configuration to work properly. It also eats up resources...but with todays CPU speeds that is really not too much of an issue.

What I like about having a SOHO router is that it's kind of a "set and forget" type deal. It does it's job unobtrusively and quietly. Plus, you get a built in switch which is very handy when adding systems to your network; or creating a network, for that matter!

I have seen the DI-604 for $30 after rebate at BBuy...

 

[Farley2k]

Now this section of the FAQ lept out at me :

"Most Cable provider use the MAC number of the NIC that is installed on your computer as a mean of authentication, at the moment that we move the connection from a single computer to the Hub/Switch the Cable companies read the new number, and will shut down your service. Some Cable companies will agree to change the number to the new MAC of the Hub/Switch, most of them will attempt to charge more if you use a network, and will give you more IP numbers to be use by the additional computers."

So if I wanted to have several people over to have a LAN party and I wanted us to all play on-line then I would need router or even if someday my wife wanted a computer of her own to use I would need a router so we could both access the internet without the cable company noticing?

 

[MonkeyK]

Routers are very nice to have if you plan on expanding your internet usage to more than one computer. Very plug and play since a NAT router will automatically assign a network IP address and then translate it for internet access. They typically include a firewall that I would trust more than a software based firewall since hardware firewall OSs are "hardened" (the OS is cleaned up to make them more secure).

Typically, you would have to specify to the ISP that you want an external modem (DSL providers usually charge extra for an external modem).

 

[RedWolf]

"Most Cable provider use the MAC number of the NIC that is installed on your computer as a mean of authentication, at the moment that we move the connection from a single computer to the Hub/Switch the Cable companies read the new number, and will shut down your service. Some Cable companies will agree to change the number to the new MAC of the Hub/Switch, most of them will attempt to charge more if you use a network, and will give you more IP numbers to be use by the additional computers."

All of the routers that I have had will do mac address cloning. The router can clone the mac address of the computer so this really shouldn't be an issue.

Another issue that a router will address is consoles. If you have x-box live or play on-line with your PS2, you can hook them up to the router and play away. To do that with just a pc, you'd have to buy another nic and configure the system. Routers also make it easy to allow traffic into your network based on port number (very good for running something like pc anywhere or VNC or hosting a game of UT).

Another thing to think about is getting a wireless router. They cost about $20 more than a non-wireless, but then you have a wireless connection available if you have a laptop around. My wife loves the ability to take our laptop anywhere in the house and connect to the internet.

I don't think you need to get the router before they set your cable up. I set mine up after they came and have since changed my router. It was pretty easy overall. One thing I'll say about linksys, though, is that their setup was cake. My new router (d-link) was much more difficult to set up to begin with and I still like the interface for the linksys much better. You can easily get a linksys for $40. You might try searching the for sale forums here for a router as well. You can probably get one for as little as $30 shipped.

 

[JackMDS]

Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.

 

[Jeff7]

You can probably get a Dlink DI-704 (discontinued by Dlink, but they still seem to work; mine does anyway) for around $40. I think the DI-704P is still supported though.

 

[Genx87]

So if I wanted to have several people over to have a LAN party and I wanted us to all play on-line then I would need router or even if someday my wife wanted a computer of her own to use I would need a router so we could both access the internet without the cable company noticing?

Just call them with the Mac address of the router. When they ask why you are changing it just tell them your NIC card died and this is the new one. I never understood where these cable companies get off telling you that a home network is not allowed. It sounds almost like a classic bait and switch. They sell you a 1.5Mbps line but if you try to actually consume that bandwidth they want to charge you more.